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Volume 6, Number 8
27 February 2006
The Pop Reporter is available in CD-ROM (January 2004 to present) format. Contact Robert Jacoby with your request and complete mailing address.
FAMILY PLANNING/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
When donor support ends: the fate of social marketing products and the markets they help create 
(Report; Global)
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Bethesda, MD, Private Sector Partnerships-One Project, Abt Associates Inc, December 2005.
Agha S | Do M | Armand F
This study assessed the performance of social marketing interventions in four middle-income countries: Morocco, the Dominican Republic, Peru, and Turkey. Analysis determined changes in the commercial sector’s share of oral contraceptives and condoms before and after the withdrawal of donor support, with a focus on changes in lower- and middle-income groups. The authors found that contraceptive social marketing interventions implemented under the manufacturer’s model can contribute to a higher commercial-sector share of a method and that this share may remain after donor support is withdrawn. The ability of social marketing to effect such a change, however, is predicated on several conditions, including the absence of competition from other sources (such as the public sector); a substantial level of acceptance and use of the method; commercial-sector involvement in contraceptive provision prior to the introduction of social marketing; and commercial partners’ commitment to continue funding promotional activities after donor support is withdrawn.
Improving hormonal contraceptive supply: the potential contribution of manufacturers of generic and biosimilar drugs
(Report; Global)
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Bethesda, MD, Private Sector Partnerships-One Project, Abt Associates Inc, January 2006.
Armand F
This paper describes the different types of hormonal-contraceptive manufacturers and opportunities for increased competition from generic and biosimilar suppliers in the procurement field, as well as the commercial sector. Barriers addressed in the paper include the difficulty of monitoring product quality and safety in developing countries, the limited sales and marketing capability of local manufacturers, unfavorable procurement policies, and market distortions caused by well-meaning donor-funded programs.
FAMILY PLANNING/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEWS
Why men report more sex partners than women
(News Article; Global)
17 Feb 2006
LiveScience
Most surveys about sex find, impossibly, that men have had far more partners than women, typically two to four times as many. Over several studies, a psychologist at the University of Michigan has discovered possible causes for this discrepancy. A certain percentage of respondents admit to lying, and men and women use different methods to calculate their past dalliances.
Creating spaces for men’s involvement in sexual and reproductive health
(Feature Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
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Agenda Special Focus 2005. 2005;:136-137.
Tshabalala M
Change in men’s behavior with respect to gender-based violence, sex and reproductive health is occurring on
the ground in various ways. This perspective, authored by the Program Manager of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme at Hope Worldwide South Africa, highlights the challenges this involves at a group and personal level.
International accreditation for family planning body
(News Article; Middle East)
22 Feb 2006
Gulf Daily News
According to this news article, the Bahrain Family Planning Association recently received full accreditation from the International Planned Parenthood Federation.
Early marriage affects development of Nepal
(Feature Article; Asia)
20 Feb 2006
OhmyNews International
This feature article discusses the variety of reasons for early marriages in Nepal and its relationship to development issues.
Local puppets put across message of family planning
(Feature Article; Asia)
22 Feb 2006
Lucknow Newsline
In a national puppetry festival in India, the troupe emphasizes the importance of birth control and how having fewer children can benefit the family overall.
Rights to commercialise world's first contraceptive spray acquired by Acrux
(Press Release; Global)
19 Feb 2006
Medical News Today
Acrux, the Australian company with patient-preferred technology for delivering drugs across the skin, announced an agreement with the New York-based Population Council that enables Acrux to progress toward commercialization of a unique contraceptive spray.
FAMILY PLANNING/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW AND POLICY
Investing in reproductive health for development goals—the Middle East and North Africa
(Policy Brief; North Africa | Middle East)
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Washington, DC, Population Reference Bureau, December 2005.
Roudi-Fahimi F | Ashford L
Written by Population Reference Bureau (PRB) Senior Policy Analyst Farzaneh Roudi-Fahimi and Lori Ashford, technical director for policy information at PRB, this policy brief examines how countries in the Middle East and North Africa region are progressing toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and highlights how these countries could benefit from greater attention to reproductive health. The region is moving in the right direction on most MDG indicators, but priority attention is needed to increase gender equality, expand quality health services, and address freshwater scarcity.
Brazil's AIDS program: a costly success
(Policy Brief; South America)
Health Policy Outlook (No. 1, 2006)
Bate R | Tren R
Brazil has rolled out a successful and widely respected AIDS treatment program, which has relied in part on producing cheap generic versions of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and in securing significant discounts for patented ART. This paper describes this program and the tactics favored by the Brazilian government to reduce ART prices. While the Brazilian AIDS treatment model has achieved many successes, Brazil’s special circumstances mean that it is not replicable in other countries affected by HIV/AIDS. In addition, Brazil’s threats to intellectual property rights have probably deterred some companies from researching new AIDS therapies.
The role of law in public health: the case of family planning in the Philippines
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Social Science & Medicine. Online access February 20, 2006.
Mello MM | Powlowski M | Nanagas JM | Bossert T
This study reviewed the laws and policies relating to family planning in the Philippines and conducted qualitative interviews in order to examine how the law may facilitate or constrain service provision. A conceptual model is presented for understanding the impact of law on public health and the findings are discussed in relation to the roles of health care provider regulation, drug regulation, tax law, trade policies, insurance law, and other laws on access to modern-method contraceptives.
A critical window for policymaking on population aging in developing countries
(Feature Article; Global)
Jan 2006
Population Reference Bureau
Although population aging presents major challenges for even the most developed countries, developing countries face particular issues in constructing policies that address increasing elderly populations, including Strain on informal support systems, pressure on health care systems, shrinking productivity and increasing demand for pensions, and increasingly feminized older populations. This article discusses these challenges and recommends solutions to policy measures that could help less developed countries deal with population aging.
Two-child policy stalled in Filipino congress; lack of support cited
(News Article; Asia)
27 Feb 2006
MichNews.com
Proposed legislation in the Philippines that would impose limits on the number of children that families can have appears to have less support in the Congress than was once reported.
Reflection on the rights created by the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act
(Feature Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
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Agenda Special Focus 2005. 2005;:42-47.
Mbatha L
This briefing discusses the position of customary marriages before the reform of the customary law of marriage and the effect of the constitutional provisions that accommodate both culture and gender equality. Reflecting on the debates that took place to accommodate cultural and equality rights, it focuses on the approaches adopted in changing the customary law of marriage in South Africa.
Reforming family laws to promote progress in the Middle East and North Africa
(Policy Brief; North Africa | Middle East)
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Washington, DC, Population Reference Bureau, December 2005.
Moghadam V | Roudi-Fahimi F
Written by Valentine Moghadam, chief of the gender section at the Social and Human Sciences sector of the UNESCO office in Paris, and Population Reference Bureau senior policy analyst Farzaneh Roudi-Fahimi, this policy brief examines recent trends in women's activism and family law reform in the Middle East and North Africa region. It highlights how Morocco recently adopted an entirely new family law that is consistent with the spirit of Islam, yet based on equal rights for both men and women.
Uganda's shift in AIDS policy tied to U.S.
(Feature Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
21 Feb 2006
Women's eNews
Uganda's first lady Janet Museveni is running for a seat in parliament on Feb. 23. Anti-AIDS activist Beatrice Were might have supported her a few years ago. But now she blames her for restigmatizing the disease with help from U.S. funding.
Protestants endorse family planning
(News Article; Asia)
22 Feb 2006
Manila Standard Today
Protestant Bishops have taken a bold stand on artificial birth control, in sharp contrast with the policy of the Catholic Church. The Council of Christian Bishops of the Philippines, which is composed of Protestant Prelates with 20,000 churches nationwide, adopted that position after the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines rejected the proposed Responsible Parenthood and Population Management Act of 2005.
Should Governments Compel Citizens to Take the HIV Test?
(Commentary; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Sexuality in Africa Magazine. 2005 Dec;2(4)
Dlamini B
In this Viewpoint article, the author argues his opposition to legislation making it binding or compulsory to take the HIV test. Rather, he says, taking the test for HIV is best left to the individual.
Family Planning Association calls for statutory sex education in schools
(News Article; Europe)
23 Feb 2006
24dash.com
The Family Planning Association is urging the government in England to make sex and relationships education a statutory part of the National Curriculum.
Military joins hands to increase birth rate
(News Article; Asia)
21 Feb 2006
The Korea Times
The Defense Ministry said Tuesday that it would give incentives to professional soldiers to have three children or more, as part of measures to help resolve the country's low birth rate problem.
HIV/AIDS RESEARCH
Final report for the implementing AIDS prevention and care (IMPACT) project in the Dominican Republic : December 1998 to June 2004
(Report; Central America and the Caribbean)
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Family Health International, 2005.
The Implementing AIDS Prevention and Control (IMPACT) Project’s activities in the Dominican Republic took place from December 1998 to June 2004. Under IMPACT, the country opened its first pilot sites for services to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission. IMPACT also helped launch HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services. By the time the project ended, more than 100 health facilities were offering VCT, providing a gateway to comprehensive HIV and AIDS services for the Dominican population.
Building effective public–private partnerships: Experiences and lessons from the African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP)
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Social Science & Medicine. Online access February 17, 2006.
Ramiah I | Reich M
This study examines the processes for building collaborative public–private partnerships for public health. It examines the African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP), a partnership between the government of Botswana, Merck & Co., Inc. (and its company foundation), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation from 2001–2005. The paper discusses the creation of ACHAP, ACHAP's experiences over 4 years, and lessons for managing relationships in highly collaborative public–private partnerships for public health.
Substance use, sexual risk, and violence: HIV prevention intervention with sex workers in Pretoria
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
AIDS and Behavior. Online access February 16, 2006.
Wechsberg WM | Luseno WK | Lam WKK | Parry CDH | Morojele NK
In this study 93 women who reported recent substance use and sex trading were randomly assigned to a modified Standard HIV intervention or to a Woman-Focused HIV prevention intervention. Participants reported high rates of sexual risk and violence at baseline. At follow-up, findings showed decreases in the proportion of women reporting unprotected sex and the daily use of alcohol and cocaine. Daily alcohol and cocaine use decreased more for women receiving the Woman-Focused intervention. Although violence continued to be a problem, at follow-up Woman-Focused participants reported being victimized less often than women receiving the Standard intervention. This study demonstrates the feasibility of implementing cross-cultural behavioral HIV prevention interventions and supports the need for future studies of women's contextual issues and the effectiveness of targeted interventions.
Why are people getting tested? Self-reported reasons for seeking voluntary counseling and testing at a clinic in Chennai, India
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
AIDS and Behavior. Online access February 22, 2006.
Solomon S | Cecelia AJ | James R | James L | Kumarasamy N | Kouyoumdjian FG
This study assessed reasons for seeking voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) in a retrospective analysis of 6,330 clients from 1994-2002 at the Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education, in Chennai, India. The most commonly reported reasons were risk behavior, having symptoms, having a current HIV-positive partner, and reconfirming a previous positive HIV test. Understanding why people seek VCT has implications for the development of education, outreach, and other HIV prevention services.
Association between genital schistosomiasis and HIV in rural Zimbabwean women
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
AIDS. 2006 Feb 28;20(4):593-600.
Kjetland EF | Ndhlovu PD | Gomo E | Mduluza T | Midzi N | Gwanzura L | Mason PR | Sandvik L | Friis H | Gundersen SG
Related News Article: Schistosoma ups HIV risk 3 times in rural Zimbabwe
This is a cross-sectional study of 527 sexually active, non-pregnant, non-menopausal women in a rural Zimbabwean community with a 1-year follow-up to determine the association between female genital Schistosoma haematobium infection and HIV. Women with genital schistosomiasis had an almost three-fold risk of having HIV in this rural Zimbabwean community.
Knowledge, attitude and practice towards HIV/AIDS in a rural Kenyan community
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Journal of Biosocial Science. Online access November 23, 2005.
Karama M | Yamamoto T | Shimada M | Orago SSA | Moji K
This study explored the knowledge, attitude, behavior, and practice towards HIV/AIDS and sexual activity in 1,500 subjects aged 16 to 49 in rural Kenya. Unsafe sexual practices were widespread.
HIV/AIDS NEWS
Nigeria: Boost in sex education urged
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
23 Feb 2006
Integrated Regional Information Networks
Nigeria's National Action Committee on HIV/AIDS has called for a greater focus on sex education in the fight against the pandemic. The framework encourages the delay of sexual debut among young people and consistent condom use among those who are sexually active.
Challenges to microbicide development remain despite new funding and commitments
(Feature Article; Global)
Feb 2006
Population Reference Bureau
A number of challenges have hampered the development of microbicides, including obtaining funding and commitment from policymakers and pharmaceutical companies. Lessons learned from the female condom, a female-initiated tool in which male involvement and cost are important for usage rates, could provide guidance to microbicide development and utilization by its target audience.
Tianjin makes AIDS prevention education compulsory
(News Article; Asia)
26 Feb 2006
Xinhua
North China's Tianjin Municipality is making HIV/AIDS prevention education compulsory for students in high schools, vocational schools, and colleges.
Russia's abandoned HIV children
(Feature Article; Asia)
21 Feb 2006
BBC News
Russia has one of the fastest growing AIDS epidemics in the world, with over 100 new infections every day. Women and their infants are being increasingly affected. The latest figures show that 22,000 babies have been born to HIV-positive women and many are being abandoned by their mothers into the care of the state.
Swaziland's first children's HIV/AIDS medical center opens; building treatment capacity in the world's hardest hit country
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
24 Feb 2006
PRNewswire
The first pediatric center dedicated to caring for HIV/AIDS-infected infants and children in Swaziland, the African country with the highest prevalence of AIDS in the world, officially opened.
Tajikistan: Donors call on country to strengthen battle again HIV/AIDS
(News Article; Asia)
23 Feb 2006
Reuters
Taking into account the factors conducive to the spread of HIV infection, experts have estimated that the number of HIV-infected people in Tajikistan may rise from an estimated 4,000 cases in 2004 to 10,000 by the end of 2006. HIV/AIDS in Tajikistan is driven largely by the strong increase of intravenous drug users, but returning migrant workers, as well as prostitution, are also spreading the infection into the population at large.
Tanzania: HIV/AIDS counselling centres set up in prisons
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
21 Feb 2006
Integrated Regional Information Networks
In a move aimed at stepping up the campaign against the spread of HIV/AIDS in prisons, the Tanzanian government has started establishing voluntary counselling and testing centres to provide services to penal institutions. Currently, there are 12 centers in various parts of the country, which provide services to inmates, prison workers, and their families. In addition, the government is supplying these centers with anti-retroviral drugs.
Safe sex next front in China's AIDS battle
(Feature Article; Asia)
24 Feb 2006
Reuters
The fight against infectious diseases such as AIDS has been highlighted as a key element of raising health standards in China's latest five-year plan, which is expected to be formally approved in March at an annual meeting of parliament.
Announcement of plan to train nurses in HIV/AIDS care and treatment across India
(Press Release; Asia)
19 Feb 2006
The Clinton Foundation
Former President Bill Clinton and the Government of India have announced a plan to train nurses in AIDS care and treatment through a partnership established between the National AIDS Control Organization of India and the Clinton Foundation.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH
Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection: Ukraine experience to date
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Europe)
The European Journal of Public Health. Online access February 13, 2006.
Malyuta R | Newell ML | Ostergren M | Thorne C | Zhilka N
This study describes the first 2 years of the implementation of the national PMTCT program in Ukraine.
Effects of a single large dose of vitamin A, given during the postpartum period to HIV-positive women and their infants, on child HIV infection, HIV-free survival, and mortality
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2006 Mar 15;193(6):860-871.
Humphrey JH | Iliff PJ | Marinda ET | Mutasa K | Moulton LH | Chidawanyika H | Ward BJ | Nathoo KJ | Malaba LC | Zijenah LS | Zvandasara P | Ntozini R | Mzengeza F | Mahomva AI | Ruff AJ | Mbizvo MT | Zunguza CD
This randomized control trial of 14,110 mother-infant pairs investigated the effect of single-large-dose maternal/neonatal vitamin A supplementation on mother-to-child transmission, HIV-free survival, and mortality. Results showed that vitamin A supplementation of HIV-positive children prolongs their survival. However, postpartum maternal and neonatal vitamin A supplementation may hasten progression to death in breast-fed children who are HIV-negative at 6 weeks. These findings raise concern about universal maternal or neonatal vitamin A supplementation in HIV-endemic areas.
Treatment-seeking practices for Malaria in pregnancy among rural women in Mukono district, Uganda
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Journal of Biosocial Science. 2006 Mar;38(2):221-237.
Mbonye AK | Neema S | Magnussen P
This study used focus group discussions and interviews to assess women’s perceptions on malaria in pregnancy in Mukono District, Uganda. Malaria was perceived as the most common cause of ill health among pregnant women, but most women could not differentiate symptoms of malaria from those of early pregnancy. Herbs and clays are used as a first resort to treat pregnancy ailments, including malaria. The cultural beliefs and practices and high cost of care prevent women from using services at health units.
Child immunization in Vietnam: situation and barriers to coverage
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Journal of Biosocial Science. Online access January 27, 2006.
Thang NM | Bhushan I | Bloom E | Bonu S
This paper analyzes cross-national demographic and health data to assess the overall performance and inequalities in the immunization of children in Vietnam. The gap in the coverage was found to occur primarily in vulnerable groups such as the poor minority or poor rural children.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NEWS
Infant mortality rate increasing
(News Article; Oceania)
23 Feb 2006
fijivillage
According to the Fijian Ministry of Health's latest annual report, the highest increases in rates of infant mortality occurred in perinatal and early neonatal mortality.
MEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH
Men's approval of family planning in Bangaladesh
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Journal of Biosocial Science. 2006 Mar;38(2):247-259.
Islam MA | Padmadas SS | Smith PWF
This study evaluated men's approval of family planning in Bangladesh using the couple dataset from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 1999–2000. 85% of the wives report that their husbands approve of family planning, which is lower than the wives’ own approval rate of 95%. Analyses showed that age, education, access to TV, inter-spousal communication, current use of family planning, and the number of living children significantly determine family planning approval.
Youth, fathers and masculinity in South Africa today
(Feature Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
(You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access this document)
Agenda Special Focus 2005. 2005;:84-87.
Morrell R
In this article, the author argues that attention should be given to working with youth and with fathers in order to contribute to a human rights culture in South Africa.
MEN'S HEALTH NEWS
Circumcision makes comeback in AIDS-hit Swaziland
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
24 Feb 2006
Reuters
Banned in the late 1800s by the King of Swaziland, circumcision is making a comeback after research showed the age-old rite may help stop the spread of HIV. Volunteers eager for the snip almost rioted at an overbooked clinic in the capital last month. "There was a stampede," said Dr. Mark Mills, administrator at the Mbabane Clinic. "There is not a family in Swaziland unaffected by HIV and people are desperate ... In some countries you have food riots, we nearly had a circumcision riot."
Russia ranked 136 in world men's life expectancy rating
(News Article; Asia)
23 Feb 2006
MosNews
Russia is ranked 136 in the world rating of average men’s life expectancy, the Russian Healthcare and Social Development Ministry reported recently. In the rating of women’s life expectancy, Russia occupies the 91 position. In the past twelve years, from 1993 to 2005, the population of Russia contracted by four percent, or 5.8 million people. In 2005 the population contracted by 0.5 percent.
Taking on healthy circumcision
(Feature Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
27 Feb 2006
The Monitor
This feature article describes the cultural initiation of circumcision in Uganda, its traditional practices, and how those practices have been forced to change due to the rising AIDS epidemic.
POPULATION RESEARCH
Interconnections among changing family structure, childrearing and fertility behaviour among the Ogu, Southwestern Nigeria
(Research Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
(You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access this document)
Demographic Research. 2006 Feb 24;14:139-156.
Wusu O | Isiugo-Abanihe UC
This analysis found that although the family system is still largely dominated by extended structures, strong traditional kinship ties have begun to undergo serious strains. The authors noted that child fostering and other means of spreading childrearing cost among relatives are fading out. Consequently, desired family size and the ideal number of children now gravitate to four children, compared to more than eight in the past.
POPULATION NEWS
6.5 billion and still growing
(News Article; Global)
27 Feb 2006
LTVNEWS Wire
The population on the Earth has hit 6.5 billion, citing a forecast by U.S. Census Bureau. The Bureau also predicts that the planet's population will exceed seven billion on Oct. 18, 2012.
Armenia's population slightly up in 2005 to exceed 3 million
(News Article; Asia)
22 Feb 2006
RIA Novosti
The population of Armenia stood at 3,219,400 people as of the end of 2005 and increased by 3,600 compared with the start of the year, the National Statistics Service said Wednesday.
Hungary population falls slightly in 2005
(News Article; Europe)
27 Feb 2006
MTI
Hungary's population loss increased compared to 2004, the Central Statistical Office said recently.
WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH
Attitudes, perceptions and knowledge about the vagina: the International Vagina Dialogue Survey
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global)
Contraception. Online access February 17, 2006.
Nappia RE | Liekensb G | Brandenburg U
The International Vagina Dialogue Survey examined women's attitudes, perceptions, and knowledge regarding the vagina. In total, 9,441 women (18–44 years) from 13 countries underwent online interviews. Most women thought that vaginal health did not receive the attention it deserves (66%) and that society has too many misconceptions about the vagina (65%); indeed, 78% agreed that society's taboos surrounding the vagina contribute to women's ignorance. The researchers recommend that a more open and informative approach is needed with regard to the subject of the vagina.
Listening to female sex workers in Vietnam: influences on safe-sex practices with clients and partners
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Sexual Health. 3(1):21-32.
Rosenthal D | Oanh TTK
This qualitative study assessed HIV/AIDS knowledge and frequency of and influences on condom use with clients and regular, non-client partners among female sex workers (FSWs) in Khanh Hoa, a tourist-oriented province of central Vietnam where sex work is common. With regular partners, most respondents reported that they never used condoms. Around one-third of women hid their sex work from their regular partners, who made the decision to use or not to use condoms. The most frequently reported reasons for not using condoms with clients were because clients offered a higher price, clients insisted on condom-free sex, and possession of condoms as evidence of sex worker status. Although the majority of respondents were well informed about HIV/AIDS transmission, about one-third had inaccurate beliefs about HIV-positive people as well as the mechanisms by which HIV is transmitted from mother to child.
Vaginal safety after use of a bioadhesive, acid-buffering, microbicidal contraceptive gel (ACIDFORM) and a 2% nonoxynol-9 product
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global)
Contraception. Online access February 17, 2006.
Amaral E | Perdigao A | Souza MH | Mauck C | Waller D | Zaneveld L | Faundes A
This was a Phase I clinical study on ACIDFORM (a microbicidal and contraceptive candidate) evaluating vaginal safety in 20 couples. Results indicate that ACIDFORM appears to be safe for clinical use once a day as compared to a commercial product (nonoxynol-9).
Intimate partner violence: results from a national gender-based violence study in Malawi
(Report; Sub-Saharan Africa)
(You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access this document)
Pretoria, South Africa, Institute for Security Studies, 2005.
Pelser E | Gondwe L | Mayamba C | Mhango T | Phiri W | Burton P
Focusing on intimate partner abuse in Malawi, this study explores sexual, emotional, and physical violence, as well as financial abuse. The authors present the main findings of the study where a total of 3,546 households were sampled, and females and males interviewed. Both a male and female perspective is offered in the study, in addition to recommendations and suggestions for both parties.
WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWS
Marriage and divorce: opportunities and challenges facing South African Muslim women with the recognition of Muslim Personal Law
(Feature Article; Global | Sub-Saharan Africa)
(You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access this document)
Agenda Special Focus 2005. 2005;:68-77.
Domingo WA
Muslim Personal Law stands on the brink of being written into the statute books of South Africa. This article focuses on the opportunities and challenges Muslim women will face in light of marriage and divorce with the recognition of the Draft Muslim Marriages Bill. It highlights the status of Muslim women in Islam, and it provides an overview of the present status quo of Muslim women in South Africa and the impact the Draft Muslim Marriages Bill will have on Muslim women.
Cervical cancer vaccine on way
(News Article; Global | Oceania)
20 Feb 2006
The New Zealand Herald
Related News Article: Cervical vaccine jabs may help men too
New Zealand women and girls will be able to buy a world-first vaccine to help protect themselves against cervical cancer, possibly within 8 months. CSL, the company which will supply the Gardasil vaccine injections in New Zealand, hopes the government will license it by October. It will cost $100 to $300 for the three-shot course.
Nine of 10 Malian women suffer genital mutilation
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
21 Feb 2006
Reuters
More than 90% of Malian women have suffered genital mutilation, a European parliamentarian told a conference recently, calling for an end to the potentially fatal practice. Mali, which signed the Maputo Protocol last year calling for states to ban and punish female genital mutilation, plans to outlaw the custom.
Prostitution during World Cup is a whole new ball game
(News Article; Global | Europe)
Sunday Herald
German cities are building mobile brothels and installing huge numbers of condom dispensers in the run-up to an expected boom in the sex business during the upcoming World Cup. It’s thought up to 40,000 prostitutes will be brought into the country to augment the thousands already at work to service the needs of some of the estimated 7 million chiefly male fans as they pour into the country from June 9.
Highlighting violence against women in Somalia
(Feature Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
16 Feb 2006
Pambazuka News
In Somalia, national laws, policies and procedures are not favourable to the rights of women and there is no framework to address widespread Violence Against Women. This article, from Strategic Initiatives for Women in the Horn of Africa Network, which comprises 28 member organizations and advocates for social change and gender equality for women in the Horn of Africa, assesses the extent of the problem and suggests solutions.
Councils fund 'panic rooms' for domestic violence victims
(News Article; Europe)
22 Feb 2006
Guardian Unlimited
Councils all over the country are setting up "panic rooms" in private homes to help women protect themselves from abusive partners. The scheme to create high security rooms for women who have been victims of domestic violence has been adopted by 120 local authorities in England and 165 more are planning to follow suit. The council installs a solid door with mortice locks, steel hinges, bolts and a spy glass to transform a bedroom into a "sanctuary". Some women are offered intercom systems and barred windows. They are advised to lock themselves in the room and phone the police if an abusive partner turns up.
YOUTH HEALTH RESEARCH
Mediating social representations using a cartoon narrative in the context of HIV/AIDS the AmaQhawe family project in South Africa
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Journal of Health Psychology. 2006 Mar;11(2):197-208.
Petersen I | Mason A | Bhana A | Bell CC | McKay M
Using findings from the formative evaluation of the adaptation of the Collaborative HIV/AIDS Adolescent Mental Health Programme family based intervention in South Africa, known as the 'AmaQhawe Family Project', the potential role of 'micro-media' using a cartoon narrative for promoting health-enhancing behavior change is explored. The cartoon narrative was found to be a useful medium for informing the development and diffusion of health-enhancing social representations that shape the potential for health-related behavior change.
YOUTH HEALTH NEWS
Students selling sex to pay off study debt
(News Article; Oceania)
23 Feb 2006
Bay of Plenty Times
Some female students are selling sex in Tauranga, New Zealand, to pay off their debt - with one recently making $5,000 in one night. Student prostitution has gone on in the Bay since the practice was decriminalized in 2003.
SPECIAL REPORTS/PROFILES/RESOURCES
Gender and sport: mainstreaming gender in sports projects
(Report; Global)
(You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access this document)
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, 2005.
Sever C
This paper looks at how to mainstream gender equality in sports projects and programs. The paper uses case studies from Kenya, the Ivory Coast and Egypt to show how sports initiatives can take into account women's and girls' perspectives and lead to women's and girls' increased involvement in physical activities. The projects also reveal how they can be used as starting points for wider educational activities such as literacy classes and training in life skills.
In The Spotlight: 'Know Yourself' kit for adolescents – Bangladesh
(Teaching and Training Material; Global | Asia)
The purpose of the monthly Spotlight is to showcase health communication materials that have had proven impact. This month the Media/Materials Clearinghouse highlights the "Know Yourself" Kit for Adolescents in Bangladesh. The "Know Yourself" materials were developed under the Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) communication program in Bangladesh. The ARH program addresses the gap between knowledge and practice through its multi-pronged communication strategy focusing on priority adolescent issues revealed by adolescents themselves. The comprehensive program is based on extensive research revealing the need to create an enabling environment that supports adolescents' knowledge and service seeking behaviors.
Calendar of Events
March 1, 2006Improving Client-Provider Interaction: Responding to Clients’ FP Needs in HIV/AIDS Service Settings
On Wednesday, March 1, 2006 from 9 AM to 11:30 AM EST, the Health Communication Partnership (HCP) and the INFO (Information and Knowledge for Optimal Health) Project — both based at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for Communication Programs — in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO), USAID, and Population Council/Horizons will host an event focused on client-provider interaction (CPI) as it responds to clients' family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) needs in HIV/AIDS service settings. Although registration for on-site participation is closed, interested parties may go online for a live broadcast of this event. The purpose of this event is to facilitate ongoing networking and dialogue among program managers, researchers, and others interested in improving CPI as it relates to clients' FP/RH needs within HIV/AIDS service settings.
Event Location: Baltimore, Maryland, USA
May 3, 2006 - May 5, 2006
1st International Conference on Reproductive Health Management - Creating Impact in Communities
With its theme "Creating Impact in Communities," Manila's 1st International Conference on Reproductive Health Management brings together leaders, managers and advocates in the reproductive health sector to give them the opportunity to take stock of what has been done so far, to share and learn from one another and to chart more effective, collaborative ways of pursuing their organizations' missions and objectives in the light of the Millennium Development Goals.
Event Location: Manila, Philippines
May 7, 2006 - May 9, 2006
Gender, Child Survival and HIV/AIDS: From Evidence to Policy
This conference aims to bring together women's health groups, HIV/AIDS groups, and breastfeeding and infant feeding advocates for a critical examination of the role of gender in health research, and how evidence is used (or not used) to direct policy relevant to women's health, infant health, and HIV/AIDS. The conference will also review the latest research on the transmission of HIV and the health outcomes of different infant feeding options, often missing from clinical discussions of paediatric AIDS (also referred to as mother-to-child transmission).
Event Location: Toronto, Canada
May 15, 2006 - May 17, 2006
Health Association of Southern Africa Third National Conference
This conference brings together public health professionals working in all disciplines to share research findings on issues pertinent to population health in South Africa and the region.
Contact's Name: Brenda Lacey-Smith / E-Mail: laceyb@enterprise.wits.ac.za
Event Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
July 2, 2006 - July 27, 2006
Summer Institute on Sexuality, Culture and Society
The Summer Institute is an intensive four-week summer program, which focuses on the study of sexuality across cultures and is taught by an international faculty team. This highly specialised programme is for advanced students, primarily PhD and MA students in the socio-cultural sciences and professionals working for NGOs.
Contact's Name: Mirjam Schieveld / E-Mail: SummerInstitute-ishss@uva.nl
Event Location: Amsterdam
May 25, 2007 - May 29, 2007
5th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health
The theme of the congress is Partnership and Innovation in Global Health, expressing the need for collaboration to develop the quality of global health and achieve some of the Millennium Development Goals. Global collaboration means collaboration between North and South, South and South, North and North, and East and West. Furthermore, innovation is important to be able to attempt to control the major problems of international health. The congress in Amsterdam is welcoming every health professional to create a platform where all issues concerning global health may be addressed, such as issues of public health, clinical tropical medicine, health economics, poverty, basic science, diagnostics, and therapeutics.
Event Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
August 3, 2008 - August 8, 2008
XVII International AIDS Conference
Mexico has been chosen as the first country in Latin America to host in 2008 the biennial International AIDS Conference, the world's largest and most influential gathering on HIV/AIDS. The event will bring together the world's foremost researchers, health-care workers, civil society, policy makers, activists, people living with HIV/AIDS and donors, to share current knowledge on the full spectrum of issues about the global epidemic. With more than 2,500 international journalists expected to attend, the Conference is the single most widely covered health event in the world.
Contact's Name: Karen Bennett / E-Mail: Karen.Bennett@iasociety.org
Event Location: Mexico City
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